📝 Has Nick Saban finally lost his touch with recruiting?

[planomateo]

Saban reached to Illinois to get his guy.

By Thumpasaurus@thumpasaurus1 Jul 7, 2018, 10:05am CDT

Has Nick Saban finally lost his touch with recruiting?



One of Illinois’ top targets for the 2019 class, Jahleel Billingsley, has committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide. The tight end out of Chicago is the 294th-ranked player in the nation and the 11th-ranked at his position. It’s an expected disappointment for Illinois, but it raises questions in the greater college football world. Namely, is the era of Nick Saban’s stranglehold on college football coming to an end?

I’m not the first to ask this question. This fall, Alabama will field its first freshman class since 2010 that wasn’t ranked #1 in the country by 247sports.com. With a mere two top-10 recruits, this isn’t the kind of class that gives you great confidence in the future of a program that needed overtime to win the national championship game.

Saban and company panicked in response to these alarming events by racking up early commitments, and as a result the 2019 class is rated #1 in the country. However, this is largely because the class is already at 20. There’s only one five-star, and he’s not even a top-25 national recruit. Sure, right now this is the top class in the country, but it’s not a lock to stay that way. After all, it’s possible that some of these 2019 players won’t start from day one in the NFL.

The need for Billingsley is just the latest shock to the system for embattled Bama fans. He’s a very talented player and I wish him all the best, but there are ten tight ends rated ahead of him in the same class, TWO of whom have committed to Auburn. Another has committed to Georgia, and the top player is an Arkansas lean. Suddenly, Alabama can’t go into places like Lakeland, Florida, and walk out with the state’s best tight end.

Instead, Alabama has to reach as far as Illinois. Billingsley represents the first time Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide have ever been desperate enough to reach into the Land of Lincoln. We’ve already debunked the myth that a national championship caliber football team could be assembled from only Illinois natives; surely this is a sign that Saban feels his empire slipping away.

At this rate, I expect that Alabama might lose another game by 2021.

 

[FlaBama2]

I remember when Andre Smith committed to Bama, and it our first 5 star in like a kajillion years. Some of the 4 stars in the 2019 class could wind up being 5's by the time NSD comes around. Not worried here. Not every class and every season can be a #1 event. Coach Saban saved the program and restored Bama glory.

 

[sean]

i've said it before and i'll say it again.

rankings and stars don't mean shit. Coach Saban has shown that he can take guys no one else wanted and turn them into All-America players. yes, some, if not most, of that has to do with the player, himself. but if the coach isn't good, then the player won't be able to use their talents or get their talents utilized like they would with a great coach.

also, it doesn't matter where you start...but where you finish.

 

[BamaFan334]

Well we're sitting really pretty and in the Top 2 or 3 of about five 5-star players, Thibodeux, Sopsher, Wright, Sanders, Dean, Tuitele, and Daxton Hill.

 

[planomateo]

Reads more like The Onion article to me.

 

[pop2]

Note his last sentence. He may not have blue type.

 

[bradenob]

i've said it before and i'll say it again.

rankings and stars don't mean shit. Coach Saban has shown that he can take guys no one else wanted and turn them into All-America players. yes, some, if not most, of that has to do with the player, himself. but if the coach isn't good, then the player won't be able to use their talents or get their talents utilized like they would with a great coach.

also, it doesn't matter where you start...but where you finish.

It's funny - if you're like me you keep up with this recruiting and all but..... As long as Saban wants him I don't care if he is 11th, or 40th like Metchie- I am glad they want to come if Coach wants them!!!!

The article is being sarcastic, of course, but in a strange way....

 

[TerryP]

Reads more like The Onion article to me.

It also reads like that article several weeks ago, from a journalist in Chicago, questioning why so many kids from that area are attending Alabama.

Growing brain drain: University of Alabama's gain in drawing Illinois students is a loss for Illinois

 

[50+yeartidefan]

I read somewhere
..
Nick looks at every single play a potential recruit plays before offering.....
Every single play.... if nick offers he obviously is convinced thats who he wants...

 

[TerryP]

I read somewhere
..
Nick looks at every single play a potential recruit plays before offering.....
Every single play.... if nick offers he obviously is convinced thats who he wants...

The vast majority are required to camp as well.

There was a mention of another WR (Pickens, AU commit) when Metchie committed. Last year he had a horrible camp. .

 

[Max]

I read somewhere
..
Nick looks at every single play a potential recruit plays before offering.....
Every single play.... if nick offers he obviously is convinced thats who he wants...

The vast majority are required to camp as well.

There was a mention of another WR (Pickens, AU commit) when Metchie committed. Last year he had a horrible camp. .

Do you think there's a chance he'll flip?

As good as Saban is in evaluating he still misses on some.